Free Rail Zone
From Portland Afoot
The Free Rail Zone, formerly known as Fareless Square, was an area in and around downtown Portland and the Lloyd District in which riding on the MAX and streetcar was free.
TriMet introduced bus fares to the area and changed the area's name in 2009, calling it a revenue-boosting measure.
[edit] Proposal for elimination
In 2011 and 2012, both TriMet and the Portland Streetcar proposed removing their vehicles from the Free Rail Zone, eliminating it. See full articles: 2011 Streetcar fare hike proposal, 2012 TriMet cuts.
[edit] Funding
In past years, TriMet's fare losses for operating the Free Rail Zone's have been offset by:
- a Business Energy Tax Credit pass-through from the City of Portland, in exchange for extending it to Lloyd Center
- about $350,000 from the City of Portland's hotel-motel tax take, also for the Lloyd Center extension
[edit] External links
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